A Conservative councillor has been suspended after allegedly baking a swastika onto a hot cross bun.
The Tories launched an investigation into former Portsmouth lord mayor Lee Mason after a photo emerged of the baked goods, which also featured the words “sex” and “f***”.
The Cosham ward councillor admitted making the buns adorned with the words and another with a Scottish National Party logo – but denied using the Nazi symbol.
He suggested the photograph, which was leaked after being posted on the Snapchat messaging app, may have been digitally manipulated.
He told the Portsmouth News: “I have not baked a bun with a Nazi symbol. You can see from the picture that is not a Nazi symbol.
“I baked some cakes, yes, but I haven’t done a Nazi symbol on any of them. And there’s no Nazi symbols there.”
Supporters of the councillor have suggested the symbol was actually the original Hindu symbol that was then changed before being adopted by the Nazi party.
However, a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Next week the Jewish community will be observing Yom HaShoah, remembering the six million Jewish men, women and children slaughtered during the Holocaust just for being Jewish.
“Whether the emblazoning of a swastika on a hot cross bun was meant as a celebration of the abominable Nazi regime or a joke, the Jewish community and local residents in Portsmouth expect better from their representatives, and the Conservative Party must investigate this councillor’s conduct immediately.”
A spokeswoman on behalf of Portsmouth North Conservative Association said: “Cllr Lee Mason has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.”
Mr Mason has been approached for comment.
Additional reporting by Press Association
